How I Would Like to Be Weighed By Others #WeighThis
I’d like to thank Lean Cuisine for sponsoring this conversation.
The thing about labels is, they tend to stick. I’m not just talking about the labels on the containers you are trying to pull off in an effort to repurpose the jar… or those annoying bumper stickers that seem to always leave some type of remnants behind on your car that can never be removed… nope, not any of those. I’m talking about the labels you get for your appearance.
Pretty much most of my life I’ve been overweight. That’s the label that just kind of stuck with me over the years. For some reason people feel it’s appropriate to speak openly about the weight of a child (I guess thinking it’ll just miraculously fall off with puberty). When it doesn’t, however, the body that holds the weight must adapt to the judgment that comes with being overweight as an adult.
Oftentimes, you grow so familiar with that label that you no longer even make an effort to change it. You just accept that it’s your body type and chalk it up to being “big boned” or some similar reason why your body will just continue to be this way.
This year, however, I shed that label. I shrugged off the self-perception of being overweight, and focused instead on “being stronger”. After a 6-month knee injury recovery, I not only stepped back in to the gym, I stepped up my confidence as well!
Just like the women in this video from Lean Cuisine, I feel inspired to change the way that people “weigh” me…
I learned how to do pushups after having never been able to do even a single one!
I built the stamina to jog a 5k.
I’ve taught my kids about goals and dedication.
The list could go on!
So, I’m not an overnight success story. I have lost 46 lbs., but I’m still technically overweight. The difference is? That little (or big, depending on how you want to phrase it) number plays SUCH a smaller part in my life these days.
I feel better.
My body is healthier.
And most importantly, I’m changing my focus of how I see myself and the confidence is changing how other people see me as well. This is what I want people to “weigh” when they see me… not the number of pounds packed into my thighs.
What do you wish people would “weigh” you on besides your weight? I’ve partnered with Lean Cuisine in the #WeighThis challenge, which challenges women to value themselves based on their accomplishments – not their physical appearance.
Share what you’d like others to #WeighIn on in the comments below, and your comment may be featured in my upcoming blog post!
This is a really great post. Thanks so much for sharing this. :O)
Losing 46 pounds is definitely something to be proud of! And weighing in how you feel is a much better measure than how we look
What a great story! You are very inspiring and I love the message behind this post.
I am loving this campaign by Lean Cuisine! I know I don’t like being judge off of my size, but my personality and how I help others.
I would prefer to be ‘weighed’ by the quality of my work or my personality. I think there are many reasons why people judge other people based only on physical appearance, but I think as long as you are proud of who you are and comfortable in your own skin other peoples judgement begins to hold much less meaning. I think your story is awesome and I am glad that you feel more confident being yourself, keep up the good work and never let anyone shake your confidence!
I need to do this. I have been trying to eat healthier this year and i am struggling to fit in workout time.
I love this story! I wish I could get over the whole weight thing too and just concentrate on being fit.
Love this! It’s so nice to read about you discarding labels and living a healthy, happy life.
Congratulations on your accomplishments! Those are great indicators of a healthy life. I love the focus on what you can do!
I’m in the middle of my weight loss journey too, but I need to be able to weigh myself so I can be assured I’m continuing to make progress. It’s the way I’m wired, I guess!
I try not to weigh myself, so I don’t want others doing it either. Monday was the first time I stepped on a scale in about a year, and that’s only because I had to at the dr. office.
I dislike labels….but it seems like it is a common issue. Physical appearance and the labels people make about it is so frustrating. I am short….5ft. Can’t change it but people constantly comment.
What a great post. You are an inspiration, and I know it might seem that way, but there are so many people who can admire what you’ve done and the changes you’ve made. You are a beautiful woman no matter what!
I remember when I first moved out to California and everyone was skinny like toothpicks I used to care about my weight and I only weighed like 125 pounds back then. I now am just trying to get back in shape and get to a healthy weight. It’s not about being a skinny minnie any more. I don’t care much about that these days.
I would like to be known as having a strong internal locus of control. This means I believe events in my life derive primarily from my own actions. This gives me the power to create my own destiny….for example, I quit smoking years ago because I wanted to be healthier, not because of anyone nagging me to do it. The desire and strength came from within me, and I did it for myself. As a nurse, I saw many who refuse to do anything proactive to improve their own health (they view themselves as powerless), and instead would just wait for medicine to “fix them” (power) when they became ill. There are always baby steps we can take to achieve a better outcome in our lives if we value health and internal strength. “Changing your focus on how you see yourself” means you are growing stronger inside as a person who has an internal locus of control. That is what I would like people to weigh me on.
As long as you are happy and healthy that is all the matters! You look fantastic!
People can definitely get hung up on physical appearance. I think body health and mind health are more important!
I love this. I am with Stacie with health. As long as one is healthy, that’s all that matters. I don’t care what others think, I care what I think and how I feel.
In my mind, there’s only one thing that size affects. Your health. That’s just a physical fact. After that, weight should mean nothing. Being heavy or thin doesn’t affect what kind of person you are, your personality, or anything else for that matter.
I do wish people could look past the physical appearance part of it, but it’s not the way people are these days sadly.
This is so inspiring and you look amazing. I want people to judge me based off of my personality and not what I look like.